There were many reasons my four days in Maine were magical. But most important among them? Getting to watch one of my dearest, sweetest childhood friends and all around favorite humans Liz tie the knot in one of her favorite places on earth.

Plus, boundless opportunities for main squeeze pun jokes.

After spending my first day in Maine exploring Kennebunkport and Brunswick with my mom, I woke up giddy to head to Portland with Liz and the rest of the girls for a bridesmaid brunch. Since we are all spread out, there hadn’t been a bachelorette party or a shower in the wedding warm-up — so we were squeezing it all into this one day.

Over brunch at Silly’s, Liz spoiled us with gifts, and vice versa. I hadn’t seen some of the other girls in the wedding for years, and it was fun to hear all the old high school gossip and hear about the twists and turns their lives had taken since we all stood on the stage at graduation day.

After brunch, we wandered around Portland for a bit catching up, taking photos, and just enjoying each other’s company. It wasn’t long before we were back in the car for manicure and pedicure appointments back in Brunswick. I was totally surprised and incredibly grateful when Liz’s mom treated us all not just to brunch, but also to our nail appointments!

Liz was the most generous and laid-back bride on Earth — I’ve never been a part of a more easy-going wedding. I loved it and if I ever get married myself I’m going to spend a lot of time asking myself WWLD (What Would Liz Do?)

Frankly though, none of it surprised me. Liz has spent the last several years moving all over the country for work and we sure don’t get to spend as much time together as either of us would like. But whenever we do, I leave with my heart full wondering how I can have more Liz in my life (we saw each other a bit more regularly when she was based in Vegas!) She is just one of those soul warming, incredible friends that I just feel thankful to the universe for, and know will be a part of my life forever.

Enough sappy stuff — onto the rehearsal dinner! Since the entire wedding was from out of town, everyone was invited to the rehearsal and nearly all of the 70-ish guests attended. It was held right at the site of the wedding the next day, Live Well Farm in rural Harpswell.

Liz and her man Marc met working in human relations for a major national pizza chain, so it was a fun nod to their “how we met” story that dinner was pizza served from a food truck. With s’mores around the campfire for dessert and lawn games strewn about the yard, it was the perfect laid-back kick off to the wedding.

Can I just tell you how thrilled I was to have my mom as my wedding date? With Ian up in Newfoundland for the month and spending a small fortune to attend a wedding in Chicago with me a few weeks later, we just simply could not justify the cost of getting him to Maine, much as it would have warmed my heart to have him meet Liz. And while I would have happily attended alone (been there, done that!) I was so excited when my mom agreed to join me.

My mom and Liz always had a special bond, and so it made me heart happy that she was able to be there. Plus, it’s been years since we went on an adventure just the two of us. It was long overdue.

So far, the weather had been pretty uncooperative on our trip — we hadn’t seen the sun in two days and it was so cold that evening I layered leggings under my maxi skirt. Crossing our fingers for the sun the next day, we all said a giddy goodnight.

And then, pre-festivities over, it was time for the big day!

My morning started bright and early when I popped over to the South Freeport salon where Liz was getting her hair done. These are small businesses in a small town, and so didn’t have the capacity for all of us — I was actually getting my hair done a few moments down the road!

I ended up at Acapello Salon, who did my updo as well as a long-overdue trim. I’m not sure how many of you will ever require hair services in Maine, but Acapello got two major thumbs up from me if you do.

Post-hair, I did a snack supply run. Since we’d reached the Maine border I’d seen ads for whoopie pies everywhere. Turns out, this treat I’d never heard of before if a Maine delicacy on par with fresh blueberry ice cream.

And so I couldn’t help but swing by Wicked Whoopies in Freeport to grab a whole selection for the getting ready crew. We cut them up into teeny pieces so we could try all the flavors — I gravitated towards the mint chocolate and the oatmeal cream. Yum! They were a hit with the bridesmaids and groomsmen alike — though of course I inadvertently showed up with something the vegan bride couldn’t eat. Doh.

The next few hours were a blur of mascara wands and curling irons. One of my favorite parts of being a bridesmaid is just getting to spend that simple quality time with the bride before the chaos of the day begins. I really cherish that special female bonding time. This wedding was no exception, though I was so busy with assisting on false eyelash applications — ironic duty to take ownership of, since I can’t wear them myself — I barely snapped any getting ready photos.

But how incredibly cute is this bride?

Before the wedding kicked off and the guests began to trickle in, I walked around the farm marveling at the amazing transformation that had taken place since the previous night. I swooned over the beautiful and personal touches Liz had so lovingly dreamed up — this was no cookie-cutter wedding! I felt like I’d walked into the pages of a bridal magazine.

And then it was ceremony time. I cried when Liz and her mom walked down the aisle, hand in hand. The ceremony was short and incredibly heartfelt, with the bride and groom penning their own beautiful vows and sharing the story of their life together.

Vows and speeches are to me, the most precious moment of any wedding — those are always the things I look forward to the most and am most likely to be spotted ugly crying during.

I loved that Liz let us girls wear whatever light pink dresses we wanted. It really made life so easy — I bought something that was very much in my price range and also made me feel like a million bucks. And I thought we all looked great together. Score!

And then it was time for cocktail hour — food, photos, and endless conversations about the magic of the sun appearing just in time for the wedding day.

I thought Liz’s look was just perfect. The dress, the hair, the adorable yellow flats. She was a postcard of a coastal Maine bride.

I know how important Maine was to Liz growing up — it’s the equivalent of my Martha’s Vineyard — and so I just about wanted to burst with happiness knowing that she made her dream happen. It was all just so her.

Dinner was fantastic, with an emphasis on local ingredients like fresh Maine lobster and a dessert bar from The Holey Donut from Portland and saltwater taffy from a nearby town.

After dinner, a DJ turned the barn into a hopping dance floor! It was amazing to see how the space was transformed from the rehearsal dinner the night before.

So, I go to a lot of weddings — I had four on the docket this summer alone. And while they all have been special and memorable in their own ways, this one was truly one for the books. It was refreshing to see a bride and groom really throw out the rule book and do things their own way.

We were honored to attend. Liz and Marc, here’s to a lifetime adventures — thank you for creating this one for us! May you forever be each other’s main squeezes.

Gorgeous photos! You must be such an expert wedding photographer by now! Can you imagine that apart from an Emirati wedding & an Indian wedding – I haven’t attended a wedding at all. It’s time my friends start getting hitched 🙂Dominique recently posted..Berlin – A Four Day Itinerary

What an awesome looking wedding! This is exactly how I want to do my wedding one day. Well, not exactly, but relaxed and without all the typical “rules.” And I’m not sure there’s a better place for a wedding than Maine! Everything about this post is just awesome and beautiful. And seriously, you have about a thousand friends getting married xD

I'm a New York native who left my home to explore the world slowly and thoroughly. I’m just a little obsessed with photography, scuba diving, and reading guidebooks to countries I have no immediate plans to visit.